GREENSBORO - North Carolina A&T senior punt returner D'Vonte Graham has been named to The Sports Network FCS Preseason All-American first team, the organization announced on Monday.

Graham is one of the most dynamic and versatile football players to ever come to Greensboro. Graham averaged 12.4 yards per punt return in 2012 to rank eighth nationally and first in the MEAC in the statistical category. He returned one punt, a 65-yard sprint through and around unsuccessful tacklers, for a touchdown against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sept. 15. Four weeks later, he had a 77-yard punt return in a 38-10 win over Howard at Aggie Stadium. In the same game, he returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown.

"He deserves this honor because he has earned it," said A&T head coach Rod Broadway. "We have seen a tremendous improvement in D'Vonte's work habits over the last few years. It is great to see it paying off for him. He is the type of player you wish you could have on the field at all times because he is just that good. He has the ability to change the complexity of a game in so many ways. I'm glad he's on our side."

In 2012, Graham scored touchdowns in four different ways as he returned a punt, an interception, a failed field goal attempt and a fumble for scores throughout the year.

A two-time first-team All-MEAC defensive player, Graham is also an excellent cornerback. He has 11 interceptions, he has broken up 35 pass attempts and he has recorded 45 tackles in his career.

He was the only player MEAC on the first team. Graham and his teammates open the 2013 season on Sept. 7 when they travel to Boone, N.C., to face Appalachian State at 6 p.m.